City of Plano Rain Barrel & Compost Bin Sale

Check back in early 2017 for sale information!

For a limited time you can buy barrels and bins at a discounted price.

Don't miss this great opportunity!

Ivy, 50 Gallon Mega Star

100% recycled Classic Black Ivy, manufactured in the USA!

Special Price of $67.00

**Buy 2 and save! - 100 gallons for $130.00**

Normal Retail Price $149.00 each

The Ivy rain barrel comes with everything you need to assemble, collect, and use rain water. Barrels can easily be daisy chained with no added cost- all components included, even a 6' long overflow hose!

Special Price of $67.00

Pick Up Date:

2017 SALE TBA

Location:

City of Plano Parkway Service Center

4120 West Plano Parkway

Plano TX 75093

Attend the City of Plano's Rain Barrel and Compost Classes

Pre-registration is required for the Compost Fair and Rain Barrels 101 classes. Pre-register at www.livegreeninplano.obsres.com. All events to follow will be held at the Environmental Education Center (4116 West Plano Pkwy)

Safety Alert:What about mosquitoes?

Ivy is equipped with a mosquito-proof screen and screen ring that snaps into the inlet to keep the screen flat and prevent mosquitoes from entering. Make sure the supplied components are installed in their proper positions and you will not have to worry about mosquitoes breeding.

On The Go?

How To Install Me

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose Ivy?

There are many reasons why this program chose Ivy. The first is because of the high quality and features she offers, as listed above in the specs. Ivy comes with all the components needed to set up and start collecting and reusing rainwater. Secondly, Ivy was designed for ease of use so she can be elevated or sit right on a level solid foundation. Having the access port at the lowest point on the rain barrel allows you to fully drain your rain water. Lastly, Ivy is manufactured right here in the USA and made of 100% recycled material. Together these features help this program support a sustainable product that will help to conserve water and protect our local water quality.

Where is the best place to put my rain barrel?

Choose a downspout on your house or garage that is closest to the plants you water the most. If you choose to set up a soaker hose or drip emitter remember Ivy is a gravity-fed system so be sure you install Ivy so the water can run downhill.

Does my Homeowner's Association (HOA) allow rain barrels? We recommend you check with your HOA for appropriate placement, color or design of any rain barrel before purchasing and installing.

Do I need to put Ivy on blocks?

Elevating Ivy isn’t required for her to function. If you choose to elevate Ivy be sure to install on a solid, level foundation with a base that extends the diameter of the rain barrel, we recommend a 24"W x 24"L base.

What do I need to know about maintaining my rain barrel?

Ivy requires very little maintenance. Keep the lid locked and the screen clear of debris. If stagnant water sitting in Ivy develops a foul smell, you may want to drain and clean the inside with a brush and fresh water. To clean the screen simply pop out the screen ring, carefully lift the dirty screen out and clean. Place screen back onto inlet and snap ring into place. If your screen is damaged use the round screen as a template and cut yourself a new one.

What about mosquitoes?

Ivy is equipped with a mosquito-proof screen and screen ring that snaps into the inlet to keep screen flat and prevent mosquitoes from entering. Make sure the supplied components are installed in their proper positions and you will not have to worry about mosquitoes.

How do I install my rain barrel?

Your Ivy comes with all the components needed to assemble and start collecting rainwater. Read all instructions prior to assembling. The screen and screen ring will come pre-installed from the factory. The ball valve has two different thread patterns, when installed correctly the lever will point away from the rain barrel. There will be a pre-installed rubber gasket in the threaded port. Hand tighten the ball valve until it will not turn any more, DO NOT USE TOOLS OR OVER TIGHTEN. It is fine if the valve is not in the exact 12 o'clock position when fully seated. Next, attached the overflow cap and overflow hose, be sure to direct the overflow hose away from your home's foundation to divert any excess rainwater. Ivy will fill up with less than 1/10th of inch of rain on a 1000 sq. ft. roof surface. Now lock the lid using the two releasable zip ties. Ivy will weigh over 420 pounds when full so please make sure you install your rain barrel on a level foundation using sturdy blocks! The ball valve allows you to attach a hose to extend where you need the water or to fill a watering can. Remember gravity feed pressure, Ivy will not have city pressure coming out of the valve, but will have enough pressure when full to extend a hose 25 feet with no incline. After your rain barrel is assembled and ready for installation, place Ivy on the blocks, using the gutter elbow and leaving room between bottom of elbow and lid of the rain barrel mark approximately 2 inches from top of elbow. Place a piece of cardboard behind the area you will be cutting, use your hacksaw to slowly cut through the downspout. Remove cut pieces and hardware and save for later winterizing. Next, crimp the four corners of the downspout and attach the gutter elbow. Place Ivy back on blocks and you are ready to start collecting and reusing rainwater.

How do we winterize our Ivy?

Drain Ivy before temperatures drop below freezing. Keep a hose attached to the open ball valve making sure it is flowing away from your home this will keep water from accumulating in Ivy and freezing. Ivy will most likely survive a freeze but she is not designed to go through multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Cooler climates should remove Ivy from the downspout and store in a covered area, reattach your cut downspout and place elbow at bottom.

Can I hook a pump up to my rain barrel?

Yes. Home improvement stores sell transfer pumps that require an electrical outlet. They work great and can move eight plus gallons of water per minute. Ivy holds 50 gallons of water giving you about eight minutes of watering. This is really helpful when rain is in the forecast and you want to make room for the next rain fall event. It is important to not leave the pump going when Ivy is empty.

What if I do not use all my rainwater?

If you are having trouble using your rainwater, you can attach a hose to Ivy's valve, extend it to your planting bed then attach a soaker hose that will allow for drip irrigation. We recommend you manually open up the holes on the soaker hose with a knife or scissors after you decide where you want the water to drip out. Then through trial-and-error, you can determine how much to leave your valve open to give enough pressure to drip into your plants. With this design, Ivy is filling and dripping, filling and dripping and your plants are thriving!

Can I buy replacement parts from you?

Most everything that comes with Ivy can be replaced at any home improvement store. If your screen gets damaged we recommend using the screen that you currently have as a template and cut a new one from extra screening you may already have or contact Rain Water Solutions for more options.

What if my overflow port does not accommodate large rains?

Ivy is designed with two 1 1/4 inch diameter overflow ports, she comes equipped with one overflow hose and one cap. To double your overflow capacity attach a second overflow hose to the other port. The overflow hose is sump pump hose and readily available at your home improvement store.